A PLAYGROUP is in danger of closing and the community is rallying to save it.

Moreton Playgroup posted on facebook last week: "It is with great sadness that we need to let you know that Playgroup is at risk of closing at the end of this academic year. This is due to rising costs of wages, insurances and pensions and the low hourly rate paid by the government for funded places. We will be announcing a meeting in due course which we will need all parents to come along to.

We remain hopeful that we will get support from the Council or other organisations that could help us to secure the future of Playgroup. Playgroup is an important part of our community and we need the support of the whole community to ensure that it can continue to provide fun and education to the children of Moreton in Marsh in future years.

Thank you to our dedicated staff team for all of their hard work and we wish you all a very happy Easter break."

Many concerned parents and past parents commented on the post. Hannah Scandolo commented: "I am very sad to hear this. And would very much like to help in any way to keep playgroup opening. Both my children have loved and benefitted so much from playgroup. It really is a lovely setting"

Brian Herbert posted: "This is the worst news I've heard in a while. Charlie and Theo have both loved their time at play group,and I wouldn't of sent either of them anywhere else. I urge everyone to get behind them and find a way out of this ridiculous situation. Our children need more places like this not less."

A member of the community and a parent of former nursery pupils, Peter Creek has written to MP for the Cotswolds Geoffrey Clifton-Brown asking him to address the situation: "The Playgroup has served the town for over 50 years and with the impending closure of Dormer House (also July 2019) the town will be short of childcare provision by at least 60 spaces.

I understand that funding from developers (S106) has been sat in a pot for several years and there are plans for a new Playgroup/Nursery to be attached to the extended St David’s Primary School in Moreton but this will come too late for the 2, 3 & 4 year olds that will miss out from September 2019."

The following crowd funding page has been set up to raise money to keep the playgroup open. wonderful.org/appeal/savemoretonplaygroup- They are hoping to secure £10,000 so the nursery can open in the next academic year.